Doc. 9708
13 February 2003
Strengthening the response to mental health needs in Europe
Motion for a recommendation
presented by Mrs Ragnarsdóttir and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it |
1. Mental health is one of a society’s most valuable capitals which no country can afford to ignore. There is growing evidence that mental ill health places a heavy burden on communities and individuals alike, leading to increased costs, sickness absences, labour turn-over, loss of productivity, social exclusion, violence, substance dependence, accidents and injuries. It causes enormous human suffering for those who are directly affected and their families, especially children.
2. Yet mental health and mental illness are still given low priority. Many European member states spend less than 3 % of their health budgets on mental health care, although mental ill health in its different expressions can easily account for one third to one half of all health care costs.
3. Improving mental health and reducing mental illness will improve quality of life, public health and productivity. The need for mental health promotion is complementary to the need for prevention and treatment of mental illness. All must be strengthened considerably in the light of new research and scientific information, programme experience and needs of populations, especially the most vulnerable groups.
4. Therefore, the Parliamentary Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:
i. launch a project designed to strengthen the mental health response in European countries in co-operation with the World Health Organisation;
ii. urge the member states:
- to take action to maintain mental health high on the political and societal agenda;
- to undertake actions with a view to improving mental health promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation;
- to initiate campaigns to reduce stigmatization and human rights violations of people with mental illness and their families.
Signed (see overleaf)
Signed : 1
Ragnarsdóttir, Iceland, EDG
Bargholtz, Sweden, LDR
Baška, Slovakia, SOC
Brînzan, Romania, SOC
Çavuşoğlu Y., Turkey, LDR
Donabauer, Austria, EPP
Evin, France, SOC
Gündüz I., Turkey, EPP
Hancock, United Kingdom, SOC
Hladiy, Ukraine, EDG
Pysarenko, Ukraine, SOC
Truu, Estonia, EDG
Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC
Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, EPP
1 SOC: Socialist Group
EPP: Group of the European People’s Party
EDG: European Democratic Group
LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group
UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
NR: not registered in a group